Chapter 473: Soon, the Great Young Master Bai would be pulling out popcorn and pigeon food to feed her.
“Seems like there’s a bit too much demand for weapons lately.”
Bai Feng has been feeling a tad vexed recently. The weapons previously crafted by the disciples on Array Peak, after multiple upgrades, became incredibly popular among the Monster Tribe in the Southern Region—way beyond his expectations. This has led to a scarce inventory, and the new disciples’ production speed can’t keep up.
Moreover, those disciples are all future pillars of Array Peak—can’t exactly treat them as mere palu (bargain trash). So, he needs to figure out a way to establish a stable weapon production line.
Truth be told, the weapons he sells to the Southern Region aren’t all that great. Even after numerous improvements, they still have plenty of flaws, like lacking the flexibility handled by cultivators’ power. If they have any advantages, it’s that they’re cheap—much more affordable than powerful spirit tools and similar items.
Thinking about the Southern Region’s situation, the number of special cultivators like array mages and alchemists there is quite small, which causes spirit tool prices to be much higher than elsewhere. For instance, portable Array Disks in the Southern Region can cost two or three times more than in the Northern Region, and some special arrays cost even more.
Maybe that’s why the weapons he’s selling there are so popular? The prices are ridiculously low, and the performance isn’t far off from high-grade spirit tools. Plus, they’re more durable.
“Should I have Yu Yao set up another weapon production line?”
Bai Feng pondered for a moment, shook his head. Yu Yao already has enough production pressure, and recruiting and training new staff is simply impossible at this point. Unless he stops the less profitable product lines—which, of course, won’t happen.
Just then, Shui Xi Yu, now the Empress of Dongzhou, suddenly sent a message.
Shui Xi Yu: Teacher, I’ve handled most of Dongzhou’s affairs. When you’re free, you can come take a look. I’ll entertain you well.
Bai Feng glanced at the message, and couldn’t help but mutter to himself—probably just solved most of the troublemakers, right?
Recently, he’d heard a lot about Dongzhou, even asked Shui Miao Miao about some things. Ever since Shui Xi Yu became Empress, the one word that kept popping up was “k*ll”!
But she’s not killing randomly—only those who violate Dongzhou’s laws. Still, the terrible environment in Dongzhou made lawless folk very numerous, and many of them persisted even after Shui Xi Yu took power. That’s also been his main income source for luck points lately.
d*mn these luck child heads—why are they so obstinate?
After muttering, he looked at Shui Xi Yu’s avatar, a sudden thought formed.
Bai Feng: Shui Xi Yu, do you have many array mages over there?
Shui Xi Yu: More or less. I was planning to rebuild the city, so I’ve been cultivating some array mages. Teacher, do you need me to do something?
Bai Feng: I plan to outsource part of our production—let others handle it. Interested?
Shui Xi Yu: Yes! But will that be okay, teacher?
Bai Feng: Just earning a bit less. Actually, maybe earning more. More customers from Dongzhou means more profit, right?
Is this a form of economic colonialism starting up? He instinctively imagined it in his mind.
Shui Xi Yu seemed to realize this too, hesitated briefly, but did not refuse. This isn’t all bad. She actually needs a “catalyst” to shake up the dead-water-like state of Dongzhou. Plus, she can broaden the horizons of those array mages—these guys are snobbish and foot-dragging, not capable but also unwilling to do much. No wonder she’s been nurturing her own array mages.
Furthermore, she can’t really stop it now. Lots of goods from the Northern Region are flowing into Dongzhou, welcomed by the nobles and aristocrats.
“Am I overthinking things when I chat with the teacher lately?”
She paused, rubbing her forehead. A few days ago, she asked Bai Feng about array knowledge and then started pondering—what was true, what was deliberately misleading, and what was hidden? She even laughed at herself for being so paranoid.
Ever since becoming Empress, she’s developed a mistrust similar to her father’s. Past worries she’d share with her teacher; now, she’s worried about everything herself.
If only the teacher could marry me… she thought subconsciously.
Shui Xi Yu: I’ll thank the teacher first, then.
Bai Feng: By the way, if you have any talented array cultivators over there, send them to Tianjian Sect to learn.
Shui Xi Yu:!!!
Shui Xi Yu: Teacher, can I go?
Bai Feng: …Don’t make trouble.
She looked at the communicator, a faint smile creeping on her lips, and suddenly realized something she had overlooked before.
The situation in the Northern Region is quite different from the South. Tianjian Sect isn’t like Dongzhou’s kingdom; there’s no big conflict. Maybe she was so busy handling Dongzhou affairs that her mind hadn’t shifted.
“Then I don’t have to worry so much.”
She thought about which disciples to send to Tianjian Sect for study.
Sigh, if only I could go myself. It’s been ages since I saw the teacher.
Really want to keep the teacher here forever…
Bai Feng suddenly shivered and looked around alertly—was it that Black Lotus again? No, maybe a demon woman, or even those snake demons from the Southern Region. Better stay cautious.
…
“Hmm… Qiao Qiao probably isn’t here.”
A pigeon perched on a dense tree branch, sticking out its head and glancing around cautiously, then flapped its wings and hovered toward the window, slipping through a crack.
‘d*mn, why isn’t Qiao Qiao leaving? I have to be extra careful just to eat my meal.’
She muttered in her mind. Previously, Qiao Qiao contacted her a few times, but she had lied and said she was busy on a secret mission for Bai Feng. If Qiao Qiao knew she was just freeloading here, trouble would mount.
“Coo Coo~”
She slowly landed on Bai Feng’s table, nuzzling his hand with her head.
Soon, the great Young Master Bai would produce popcorn and pigeon food to feed her.
“Lately, you seem to be out less often. Where do you hide all day?”
Bai Feng took out a small bag of popcorn, placing it in front of the pigeon, then gently scratched her head.
“Coo?”
The pigeon tilted its head, then lowered its beak and continued eating.
“……”
This Ling Lan is getting better and better at pretending to be an oblivious pigeon.
Bai Feng shook his head lightly but also had some guesses. Since Qiao Qiao and the others arrived, Ling Lan spends less time in front of him. Probably hiding from Qiao Qiao and her crew. The reason? Simple—just to sneak in and grab popcorn, pretending to be a normal pigeon, and secretly staying aboard the flying boat in Tianjian Sect. That’s probably hard to say out loud.
